Garment with access pocket

ABSTRACT

A hand-worn garment is described and includes at least one pocket portion, on the back and/or palm sides of the garment. The pocket portion defines a pocket space that can be sized and configured to house a facial wipe or other item that the wearer wishes to carry with them. The hand-worn garment can be a glove, fingerless glove, or mitten. Also described is a garment, such as a shirt or jacket, having such that a pocket portion that is a component of a sleeve of the garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/720,236, filed Aug. 21, 2018 and titled GARMENT WITH ACCESS POCKET.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to garments for runners, and more particularly,garments with pockets.

BACKGROUND

Running can be an elegant sport, requiring minimal equipment. Runningattire can be elegantly simple, unadorned with extra features, which canbenefit both performance and aesthetic appeal. However, in someinstances, the simplicity of running attire can pose challenges forrunners, who may desire, for example, some accommodations for carryingpersonal items along for their runs. The present disclosure providessolutions for such desires.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to garments for runners, and more particularly,garments with pockets. In an illustrative but non-limiting example, thegarment is a hand-worn garment for substantially encircling a wearer'shand and that includes a major garment portion having a pocket portion.The pocket portion may be part of the back and/or palm side of thehand-worn garment. The pocket portion may be sized and configured tohouse a facial wipe or any other item that the wearer wishes to carry.

Also described is a garment, such as a shirt or jacket, having a pocketportion, such as the one described above, that is a component of asleeve of the garment.

The above summary is not intended to describe each and every example orevery implementation of the disclosure. The Description that followsmore particularly exemplifies various illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration ofthe following detailed description in connection with the followingdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from the back side, of a hand-worngarment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, from the palm side, of the hand-worngarment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, from the back side, of another hand-worngarment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, from the palm side, of the hand-worngarment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, from the back side, of yet anotherhand-worn garment; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, from the palm side, of the hand-worngarment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to garments for runners, and more particularly,garments with pockets. Examples of construction, dimensions, andmaterials may be illustrated for various garments, and those skilled inthe art will recognize that suitable alternatives may be utilized. It isto be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein arefor the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Traditional running attire can be elegantly minimalist in design, whichcan be consistent with performance goals and appealing aesthetically.However, in some circumstances, the sparseness of design of some runningclothing can pose practical challenges. Lack of pockets, for example,can pose a problem for a runner with a runny nose who may wish to carryalong a handkerchief, tissue, or some other form of facial wipe. Thepresent disclosure provides garments with novel pocket configurationsthat runners can easily add to their wardrobes.

FIGS. 1-6 are perspective views of exemplary hand-worn garments withFIGS. 1, 3 and 5 providing a view of the back side of the garment, andFIGS. 2, 4, and 6 providing a view of the palm side. Hand worn garment100 is illustrated as a glove in FIGS. 1-4 and a mitten in FIGS. 5-6,with separate extensions for each of the fingers 102 (including thethumb). Hand-worn garment 100 includes main garment portion 104 thatsubstantially encircles a wearer's hand. In some cases, main garmentportion 104 includes one or more extensions 102 such that the hand-worngarment comprises, for example, a glove, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, ora mitten, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-6. In some cases, main garmentportion does not include extensions 102 such that the hand-worn garmentcomprises, for example, a fingerless glove.

Hand-worn garment 100 can include back pocket portion 106 attached tothe main garment portion on the back side of the main garment portion.The back pocket portion can define, at least in part, back pocket space108, indicated in phantom outline in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5. Back pocketspace 108 may be located between two fabric layers and can be accessedvia back pocket opening 110 defined, at least in part, by portions ofback pocket portion 106 and main garment portion 104. Back pocketopening 110 can be anywhere on the back side of the hand-garment, aslong as it allows access to back pocket space 108. For example, backpocket opening 110 can be along a top edge of back pocket space 108(i.e., an edge nearest to a user's fingers, as illustrated in FIGS. 1and 5), along a bottom edge of back pocket space (i.e., an edge nearestto a user's wrist, as illustrated in FIG. 3), or along any one or moreof the four edges shown by phantom lines in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5. Foranother example, back pocket opening 110 can be within an area definedby a back pocket space as opposed to along one or more edges.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, hand-worn garment 100 can include palmpocket portion 112 attached to main garment portion 104 on the palm sideof the main garment portion. The palm pocket portion can define, atleast in part, palm pocket space 114, indicated in phantom outline inFIGS. 2, 4, and 6. Palm pocket space 114 may be located between twofabric layers, and can be accessed via palm pocket opening 116 defined,at least in part, by portions of palm pocket portion 112 and maingarment portion 104. Palm pocket opening 116 can be anywhere on the palmside of the hand-garment, as long as it allows access to palm pocketspace 114. For example, palm pocket opening 116 can be along a top edgeof palm pocket space 116 (i.e., an edge nearest to a user's fingers, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6), along a bottom edge of palm pocket space(i.e., an edge nearest to a user's wrist, as illustrated in FIG. 4), oralong any one or more of the four edges shown by phantom lines in FIGS.2, 4, and 6. For another example, palm pocket opening 116 can be withinan area defined by a palm pocket space as opposed to along one or moreedges.

The phantom outlines shown in FIGS. 1-6 are merely schematic and shouldnot be considered limiting with regard to the precise structure,geometry, extent, etc., of their respective pocket spaces. For example,one pocket may be sized and configured to hold one or more keys oridentification cards. Another pocket may be sized and configured to holdone or more facial wipes as described below.

In some embodiments, the back and palm pocket spaces can be sized andconfigured to hold one or more facial wipes such as those suitable forblowing a nose. For example, hand-worn garment 100 can be provided witha facial wipe or wipes. In some cases, the facial wipe is reusable andcan be attached to the hand-worn garment such that it can be storedsubstantially within a pocket space, such as by having an edge of thewipe attached just inside the pocket opening. Such an attachment couldbe permanent, such as via stitching, wherein some portion of the wipe isstitched to some portion of the hand-worn garment; for example, someportion of the wipe can be stitched to back pocket portion 108 ofhand-worn garment 100. In some cases, the attachment can allow thefacial wipe to be easily detached from the garment. For example, such aremovable attachment could comprise a hook-and-loop fastener or a snapattachment.

For embodiments in which the hand-worn garment has more than one pocket,e.g., hand-worn garment 100, one can use facial wipes that are notattached to garment, and the wearer may use one pocket for unused wipesand the other for used wipes.

A pocket opening of the hand-worn garment, such as back pocket opening110 or palm pocket opening 116, can include a manual closure device ordevices for keeping the pocket closed to help retain any items withinthe pockets. The manual closure device can comprise a zipper, snap,hook-and-loop assembly, or even a flap which simply overlaps and shieldsthe opening.

A pocket opening of the hand-worn garment can be devoid of a manualclosure device. In these cases, the garment can be structured andconfigured such that friction is sufficient to retain a facial in apocket space. For example, the pocket space can comprise textiles withstructured surfaces or made from fibrous materials which can providefriction. The omission of manual closure devices can advantageouslysimplify access to the contents for garment users/wearers, and it cansimplify manufacture of the article.

The pocket space of the hand-worn garment can comprise a water-resistantbarrier to prevent external moisture (such as from precipitation orperspiration) from entering or exiting the space.

In an example of a hand-worn garment, the pocket portion can generallyoverlay main garment portion such that the pockets they help define canbe characterized as exterior pockets. In some configurations, ahand-worn garment can be structured with one or more pocket portionsthat can generally be disposed inside the main garment portions, suchthat one or more interior pockets are defined.

Novel pocket configurations for garments other than hand-worn garmentsare contemplated in the present disclosure. For example, pockets similarto those described in relation to hand-worn garment 100 can beincorporated near the wrists of sleeves of tops such as long-sleeveshirts or jackets.

Persons of ordinary skill in arts relevant to this disclosure andsubject matter hereof will recognize that embodiments may comprise fewerfeatures than illustrated in any individual embodiment described byexample or otherwise contemplated herein. Embodiments described hereinare not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of ways in which variousfeatures may be combined and/or arranged. Accordingly, the embodimentsare not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, embodimentscan comprise a combination of different individual features selectedfrom different individual embodiments, as understood by persons ofordinary skill in the relevant arts. Moreover, elements described withrespect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments evenwhen not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted. Althougha dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination withone or more other claims, other embodiments can also include acombination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each otherdependent claim or a combination of one or more features with otherdependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed hereinunless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.Furthermore, it is intended also to include features of a claim in anyother independent claim even if this claim is not directly madedependent to the independent claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand-worn garment, comprising: a main garmentportion for substantially encircling a wearer's hand and defining a backside and a palm side; a back pocket space attached to the back side; anda palm pocket space attached to the palm side.
 2. The hand-worn garmentof claim 1, the back pocket space defined by a plurality of sides and aback pocket opening, the palm pocket space defined by a plurality ofsides and a palm pocket opening, wherein at least one of the back pocketopening and the palm pocket opening is closer to the wearer's fingersthan it is to the wrist.
 3. The hand-worn garment of claim 1, the backpocket space defined by a plurality of sides and a back pocket opening,the palm pocket space defined by a plurality of sides and a palm pocketopening, wherein at least one of the back pocket opening and the palmpocket opening is closer to the wearer's wrist than it is to thefingers.
 4. The hand-worn garment of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe first pocket space and the second pocket space is sized to house afacial wipe.
 5. The hand-worn garment of claim 4, wherein the facialwipe is permanently attached to the garment.
 6. The hand-worn garment ofclaim 4, wherein the facial wipe is removably attached to the garment.7. The hand-worn garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is devoid of amanual closure device for at least one of the first pocket space and thesecond pocket space.
 8. The hand-worn garment of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the back pocket space and the palm pocket space comprises awater-resistant barrier.
 9. The hand-worn garment of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the first pocket space and the second pocket spacecomprises an exterior pocket relative to the major garment portion. 10.The hand-worn garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the firstpocket space and the second pocket space is defined as an interiorpocket relative to the major garment portion.
 11. The hand-worn garmentof claim 1, wherein the garment is a mitten.
 12. The hand-worn garmentof claim 1, wherein the garment is a fingerless glove.
 13. A hand-worngarment, comprising: a main garment portion for substantially encirclinga wearer's hand and defining a back side and a palm side; a pocket spaceattached to the back side or the palm side; and a facial wipe attachedto the pocket space.
 14. The hand-worn garment of claim 13, wherein thepocket space is devoid of a manual closure.
 15. The hand-worn garment ofclaim 13, wherein the pocket space comprises a water-resistant barrier.16. A garment, comprising: a main garment portion for substantiallyencircling a wearer's torso; one or more sleeves; a pocket spaceattached to at least one of the sleeves; and a facial wipe attached tothe pocket space.
 17. The garment of claim 16, wherein the pocket spaceis devoid of a manual closure.
 18. The garment of claim 16, wherein thepocket space comprises a water-resistant barrier.